Sun Lakes Country Club

Pros

• Residents could not be more content in this community.
• The community is great and beautiful with lots of fun people.
• The staff is really nice and the grounds are kept beautiful.
• The club offers consistently wonderful meals.
• There are many activities for everyone to enjoy.
• The gated community features a waterfall entrance, a golf course, and beautiful homes.
• Residents enjoy great golfing with friends.
• Tuesday bingo is fun and the margaritas are delicious.
• The amenities are great and the environment is pleasant.
• The community has two golf courses, multiple pickleball courts, bocce, and many activities.
• It is a nice place to live with friendly neighbors.
• Sun Lakes is described as a beautiful place to live with many activities and amenities.

Cons

• The community is overpriced with ridiculous rules that restrict residents' freedoms and parking.
• The HOA management and compliance department reportedly takes days to respond, if they respond at all.
• The place is described as awful and not something anyone would recommend moving to.
• The HOA is described as a dictatorship, with fines for almost anything and condescending staff.
• Security is described as an absolute joke.
• HOA staff are described as condescending and holier-than-thou.
• There is perceived harassment of community members by the HOA.

Review

This Sun Lakes Country Club community presents itself as a sun-soaked, activity-filled retirement haven where greens, water features, and welcoming faces form the backdrop for daily life. Many residents speak with genuine affection about the beauty of the grounds - two golf courses, expansive greens, and a gated entrance that makes coming home feel like an everyday retreat. The setting is described as peaceful, clean, and well maintained, with a sense of security reinforced by 24-hour staff presence. For those who love to be outdoors or to connect with friends and family, there are plentiful opportunities to do so, from golf and pickleball to social events and casual dining within a short stroll of where you live.

The dining scene is a central part of daily life here, with one kitchen feeding three eateries, a setup that gives residents variety without leaving the community. Yet, there's a clear tension between convenience and flexibility. If you're seated with friends, your option to order is typically limited to the menu of the restaurant where you're seated, even though a different eatery on site may be open and serving different items. When a restaurant is closed, that limitation makes sense, but when it's open, many would like its menu to be fully accessible from wherever you are seated. Food quality is praised in places, with mentions of enjoyable meals like ahi tuna and fish and chips, and even a popular margarita on Tuesday bingo nights. Still, there are comments about inconsistent preparation, such as steaks being prepared in a way that doesn't always align with what a guest requested, despite being asked how they'd like it.

Social life and activities are a major draw. The community buzzes with ongoing events and friendly interaction. From weekly bingo on Tuesdays, where margaritas and good company abound, to bereavement and grief groups that bring residents together in meaningful ways, there's a strong sense of community bonds. The atmosphere feels family-like for many who live here or visit friends who do. Notable moments include performances by visiting musicians at large events - Cornelius Mimms and his band playing at the Annual White Party drew praise for the music and sound quality. The array of recreational options is robust: eight pickleball courts (described as clean and tidy), perennial golf play, and the chance to engage in pool, spa, and other leisure activities late into the evening. The overall tone of many reviews is that the club delivers a lively, well-rounded lifestyle with enough variety to keep residents entertained and engaged.

The people who inhabit this place are often cited as one of its strongest assets. Neighbors are described as friendly and supportive, with many recounting how happy they are to be living among others who share a love of the lifestyle here. Some residents express an earnest wish to stay and to keep growing roots - whether they are long-time retirees, people who moved here to downsize, or families visiting loved ones who now call Sun Lakes home. The sense of place is reinforced by the natural beauty - the ducks in the pond near a patio, the sunset-watching moments from a lounge by the golf course, and the general warmth of conversations that start in hallways or over a meal. Even newcomers who joined only recently speak to feeling welcomed and integrated into a community where there is much to explore and enjoy.

Of course, no living situation is without its challenges, and this community is no exception. Several residents raise concerns about the homeowners association (HOA) and its governance. Some describe the HOA as overpriced and overly restrictive, pointing to rules that limit parking in driveways or on the street and a broader sense that freedoms are curtailed. There's also frustration with what is perceived as slow or inconsistent communication from HOA management and the compliance department, with some reports noting delays in addressing paint trim violations or permit-related issues that linger far longer than expected. A few reviews use stark language to describe the HOA as dictatorial, highlighting a culture of fines and frequent confrontations. Yet there are other perspectives that acknowledge the HOA's role in maintaining property values and preserving the community's aesthetic, even as they call for more responsive and constructive management. The sentiment ranges from "worst HOA" to "they drag their feet," to calls for better, more transparent processes.

Despite these governance concerns, the amenities continue to draw people in and keep them returning. Residents repeatedly commend the groundskeeping, multiple dining options, and the overall environment that feels safe and family-friendly. The clubhouses and lounges are frequently described as welcoming, with expansions on the horizon, such as plans to extend and upgrade the lounge area. A few reviews note ongoing construction on the dining and bar areas, with assurances that improvements will be worth the temporary disruption. This dynamic - updating facilities while maintaining the everyday rhythms of life - appears to be part of what keeps the community feeling modern and relevant to both long-time residents and those who are new to the area.

In sum, Sun Lakes Country Club emerges as a place of dualities: it is a visually stunning, active, and tightly knit community that offers a rich lifestyle with golf, pickleball, social events, and a trio of dining venues all within reach. It is also a place where residents passionately debate governance practices, express concerns about accessibility and menu flexibility, and navigate the balance between preserving a serene, controlled environment and allowing individual freedoms. For anyone considering making Sun Lakes their home, the message is clear: you'll find ample beauty, plenty of opportunities to connect and be entertained, and a strong sense of belonging - but you'll also want to weigh how HOA policies, dining logistics, and the pace of administrative responses align with your personal expectations for community life.

Nestled in Banning, California, this neighborhood boasts a variety of healthcare providers including Loma Linda University Health Care and Beaver Medical Group, as well as convenient pharmacies such as Rite Aid and Walmart. The area offers a selection of dining options from Chipotle Mexican Grill to Patsy's Country Kitchen, ensuring there is something to satisfy every palate. With nearby parks like Mountain View Park and Noble Creek Park, residents can enjoy the outdoors in a serene setting. For those who value their faith, places of worship such as Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic Church are within reach. Additionally, transportation is easily accessible with Banning Regional Airport just a short distance away. Overall, this part of Banning provides essential amenities for senior living in a peaceful community setting.

Physicians

• Loma Linda University Health Care (0.5 miles)
• Gambro Healthcare Banning (0.8 miles)
• Beaver Medical Group (0.8 miles)
• Karim Toursarkissian, MD (0.8 miles)
• Beaver Medical Group - Michael Yoon MD (0.9 miles)
• Beaver Medical Group (0.9 miles)
• Cardiology Specialist Medical Group (1 miles)

Hospitals

• Loma Linda University Medical Center-Beaumont Asc (0.5 miles)
• San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital (1 miles)

Pharmacies

• Rite Aid (0.5 miles)
• Walmart Pharmacy (0.9 miles)
• Walgreens (0.9 miles)
• Total Care Pharmacy (1 miles)
• Walgreens (3 miles)
• Rite Aid (4 miles)
• Rite Aid (8.2 miles)

Restaurants

• Chipotle Mexican Grill (0.6 miles)
• Patsy's Country Kitchen (0.6 miles)
• In-N-Out Burger (0.7 miles)
• Wienerschnitzel (0.7 miles)
• Taco Bell (0.7 miles)
• El Mariachi Taco Shop #2 (0.7 miles)
• Farmhouse (0.8 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (0.7 miles)
• Sharetea (0.8 miles)
• Starbucks (2.2 miles)
• Starbucks (6.5 miles)
• Starbucks (7.1 miles)
• Starbucks (8.2 miles)
• Starbucks (8.7 miles)

Theaters

• 2nd Street Cinema (0.9 miles)

Parks

• Mountain View Park (1.7 miles)
• Noble Creek Park (3.5 miles)
• Palmer Park (6.8 miles)
• Avenue I Park (9.2 miles)
• Valley Wide Regional Park (10.1 miles)

Places of Worship

• Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic Church (2.5 miles)
• Precious Blood Catholic Church (3.5 miles)
• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (7.7 miles)
• San Jacinto Assembly Of God Church (9.1 miles)

Transportation

• Banning Regional Airport (4.7 miles)